I have a question about the Honeywell Tilt-A-Mite flash. I recently found a few of them in a box of old photographic equipment and thought I'd try them out. I found a replacement battery through Radio Shack's online store. A unit appeared to work. The problem was that it would often discharge prematurely when I tried to insert a bulb (either M-2/3 or the bayonet based #5 or 25). I thought the capacitor might be bad so I tried using a Radio Shack part number 272-1020 (2200mF Electrolytic Capacitor). This fits the case just fine if you wrape the leads into little springs on the ends. It will charge and flash just fine but I am still having trouble with the unit flashing the bulb prematurely (I've learned to hold the bulb with a towel or something thick enough to protect my fingers from the heat!). I also have trouble getting M-2/3 bulbs to stay seated; they don't want to click into place. I've tried exchanging the battery and capacitor between different units and it still does the same thing. I thought it might be static so I tried touching the bulb to the fan before inserting it. Sometimes it works; many times it doesn't. Anyone have any ideas on this? I know this may not be the right place to ask this question but I can't find any other forum that might have information about these units.

kp...some old flash units with sync cords attached have insulation in the sync cords that is shot. So, if the cord is flexed just so, the conductors touch and fire the bulb. You need to get a test lamp to insert in place of the flash bulb and flex the cord to see if you can make the test lamp illuminate. If necessary, replace the cord. Fred.

Hi Kevin
I don't have any words of wisdom, although, if you do find out the shorting flash problem will you please post it here?
I have a Heiland Tilt-a-mite and it is working, no problems. Mine does have a switch on top of the unit to switch between the bayonet base and the M2 base. Could that switch be shorted and also cause your M@ base connection problem?
Harry